Willis s



No. 6l3,237. Patented Nov. I, I898. W. 8. BROWN. MEANS FOR ADJUSTINGSPROGKET CHAINS FOR VELOOIPEDES.

(Application filed Oqt. 12, 1896.)

(No Model.)

i-I IllHllIlll UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIS S. BROWN, OF BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL ISEIVING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

MEANS FOR ADJUSTING SPROCKET-CHAINS FOR VELOCIPEDES SPECIFICATIONforming part Of Letters Patent No. 613,237, dated November 1, 1898.

Application filed October 12, 1896. Serial N0. 608.589. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIS S. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Belvidere, in the county of Boone and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Adjustingthe Sprocket-Chains of Velocipedes, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates more particularly to means for adjusting thesprocket-chain of a tandem, and more especially the forward chainthereof; and my invention has for its primary object to provide improvedand simple means whereby the sprocket-wheel around which the chain to beadjusted passes may be moved bodily with its shaft-hanger to effect thedesired adjustment.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features ofnovelty in the construction, combination, and arrangement of partshereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings andmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a part of avelocipede-frame equipped with my improvements,the sprocket wheel andchain being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

In the example of tandem-frame in connection with which I haveillustrated my invention, 1 represents the inclined bar or tube whichconnects the head of the frame to the forward crank-hanger, 2 representsthe inclined bar which extends downwardly from a point in the vicinityof the forward saddle, and 3 and 4 represent the horizontal couplingbarswhich couple the rear and forward crankhangers together. In adapting theframe of this construction for the application of my improvements I jointhese four bars 1, 2, 3, and 4 together by a union casting or forging 5,which is provided with a horizontal flange 6 and a vertical flange 7,into which latter the horizontal coupling bars 3 4 have their endssecured, while the inclined bars 1 and 2 are suitably secured to theupper side of the horizontal flange 6. The horizontal flange 6 isflattened 011 its under side, and fitted into the angle formed by thetwo flanges 6 7 is an adjustable crank-hanger 8, in which the forwardcrank-shaft of the forward sprocketwheel is journaled. This adjustablecrankhanger may be best mounted and secured by providing its rear sidewith a pair of stems 9, which are accurately fitted into the horizontalmembers 3 4, respectively, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2, and whichpermit the crankhanger 8 to slide back and forth,with its upper facefitting accurately against the under face of the horizontal flange 6. Itwill thus be seen that by the forward or backward movement of thecrank-hanger 8 the forward crank-shaft and sprocket-wheel may be bodilyadjusted for taking up the slack of or loosening the driving-chain, thetwo stems 9 serving to guide the crank -hanger in its movement and holdthe crank-shaft accurately at right angles to the line of the chain. Inorder that the crank-hanger may be held with greater security and may befirmly locked at its adjustment or held against further forwardmovement, I provide the horizontal flange 6 on either side with alongitudinal slot 10, through which passes a set-screw 11,which has itslower end threaded in -the crank hanger 8, thus at once serving tosupport the crank-hanger from downward movement on the flange 6, whileat the same time holding it firmly against further forward movement. Thecrank-hanger thus constructed may be adjusted forwardly to a nicety bymeans of an adjusting-screw 12, which passes horizontally through therear flange 7 and impinges against the rear side of the crank-hanger 8,as clearly shown. in Figs. 2 and 3. This adjusting-screw may be securelylocked against movement after the proper adjustment has beenaccomplished by means of a jam-nut or lock-nut 13, threaded thereon andadapted to come against the rear side of the flange 7.

While I have been particular to describe my invention in connection withthe frame of 5 a tandem and especially in connection with the forwardcrank-shaft thereof as an illustration of its greatest utility, it willnevertheless be observed that the same device may be employed foradjusting the crank-hanger of a single wheel, if so desired, and Itherefore do not confine my invention to the particular use described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the frame of a velocipede having the flanges 6 7secured thereto, the horizontal tubes 3 4 secured to said flange 7, acrank-hanger mounted under said flange 6 and having a pair of stemsfitting into said tubes 3 4 respectively, an adjustingscrew passingthrough said flange 7 and impinging against said crank-hanger,saidflange 6 being provided on each side with longitudinal slots, andset-screws passing through said slots and engaging in said crank-hanger,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the frame of the velocipede having the twohollow horizontal parallel members 3 4 and the two upright members 1 2,of the union 5 having portions at its upper side for the reception ofthe lower ends of the members 1 and 2 and sockets at its lower rear endfor the reception of the members 3 4, each side of said union beingprovided with a flat lateral flange having a slot extendinglongitudinally of the members 3 4; a crank-hanger 8 arranged under saidflange and having a flattened upper side fitting thereagainst, aset-screw passing vertically through each of said slots and engaging insaid crank-hanger for holding the crankhanger against downward andforward movement, a pair of guide-stems projecting from the rear side ofsaid crank-hanger and fitting in said hollow members respectively, andan ad justing-screw passing through the rear side of said union andimpinging against the rear side of said crank-hanger, saidadjustingscrew being arranged horizontally and parallel with and betweensaid hollow members, substantially as set forth.

WILLIS S. BROWN.

\Vitnesses:

D. ELDREDGE, F. \V. LYNN.

